The City of Springfield is honoring a former councilman for his public service and commitment to equality. According to a release from the city, Mayor Ken McClure will host a reception at 4 p.m. Friday, December 21, to honor Denny Whayne, the first African-American elected to Springfield City Council since its current form of government was adopted in 1953. Whayne served as the Zone 1 representative for two four-year terms.
City officials have named a conference room after Whayne in the Busch Municipal Building, where the reception will take place. That's on the fourth floor of the building, located on Boonville Ave.
Whayne grew up in Springfield, joined the NAACP at 11 and participated in the Freedom Rides of 1961.